Hydrotherapeutic apparatus

ABSTRACT

Hydrotherapy equipment adapted for use with a conventional bathtub. The nozzle and aspirator of this device is provided with a fitting that is inserted into a small valve mechanism that is located in the drain of the bathtub. A pipe is connected to this valve mechanism and this pipe extends down through the drain and is connected to the pressure side of a water pump through a directional valve. The water supply line is also connected to the bottom of this valve mechanism through another directional valve. The drain of the bathtub is connected to the suction side of the pump and a bypass which is provided with an adjustable pressure relief valve is connected so that water from said pump is circulated therethrough when the valve mechanism in the bathtub drain is closed, that is, when the fitting attached to the nozzle and aspirator is removed from the valve mechanism.

United States Patent [191 Mickelson Apr. 23, 1974 HYDROTHERAPEUTIC APPARATUS Related [1.8. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 196,464, Nov. 8,

1971, Pat. No. 3,717,142.

[52] US. Cl. 128/66, 4/180 [51] 1111.0 ..A61h 9/00 [58] Field Of Search .1 128/66, 365; 4/180, 178

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1969 Steltz... 128/66 X 3/1971 Borsum et al..... 7/l97l Vane-gas et al. 4/178 Primary Examiner-lgwrence Trapp Attorney, Agent, or FirmAllen & Chromy 5 7] 7 ABSTRACT Hydrotherapy equipment adapted for use with a conventional bathtub. The nozzle and aspirator of this device is provided with a fitting that is inserted into a small valve mechanism that is located in the drain of the bathtub. A pipe is connected to this valve mechanism and this pipe extends down through the drain and is connected to the pressure side of a water pump through a directional valve. The water supply line is also connected to the bottom of this valve mechanism through another directional valve. The drain of the bathtub is connected to the suction side of the pump and a bypasswhich is provided with an adjustable pressure relief valve is connected so that water from said pump is circulated therethrough when the valve mechanism in the bathtub drain is .closed, that is, when the fitting attached to the nozzle and aspirator is removed from the valve mechanism.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 1 PATENTEDAPR 23 ISM SHEET 1 [IF 2 PATENTEDAPREIJ I974 SHEET 2 OF 2 FIG.2

1 HYDROTHERAPEUTIC APPARATUS This application is a Continuation-In-Part of my Application Ser. No. 196,464 filed Nov. 8, 1971, for Hydrotherapeutic Apparatus and now US. Pat. No. 3,717,142.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to hydrotherapy equipment for use in conventional bathtubs and which may be installed with minor plumbing changes.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved hydrotherapy equipment for bathtubs, said equipment including an aspirator with a nozzle which is provided with a fitting that is adapted to be inserted into a valve mechanism that is located in the drain of the bathtub and is constructed so as to be opened when said fitting is inserted thereinto so that water under pressure may be supplied to said nozzle by a pump which has the pressure side thereof connected to said valve mechanism and which has the suction side thereof connected to the bathtub drain.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved hydrotherapy equipment for use in conventional bathtubs, said equipment being constructed so that the aspirator and nozzle provided thereto may be completely withdrawn from the bathtub when said equipment is not in use so that there are no parts projecting into the tub from said drain when the hydrotherapy equipment is not in use.

Other and further objects of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates from the following specification, claims and drawing.

In accordance with this invention I have provided hydrotherapy equipment for use in a conventional bathtub which is constructed so that the aspirator and nozzle employed therewith may be complely detached from the bathtub when not in use. This detachable unit is provided with a fitting that is inserted into a valve mechanism that is positioned in the bathtub drain when it is desired to use the aspirator and nozzle in the hydrotherapy treatment. In this treatment the tub is first filled with water and the water pump which is provided to the hydrotherapy equipment is turned on. The suction side of the pump is connected to the bathtub drain and the pressure side thereof is connected to the aforesaid valve mechanism. Thus, when this valve mechanism is opened by inserting the fitting connected to the aspirator and nozzle, water under pressure is supplied to said nozzle by the pump. At the end of the hydro therapy treatment the aforesaid fitting is moved from said valve mechanism and the valve thereof is closed.

A pressure relief valve which is set to operate at a predetermined pressure is connected into a pump bypass circuit so that if the pump is operating after the valve mechanism is closed the pressure from the pump is relieved through the pressure relief valve.

Additional features and details of this invention will be set forth in the following specification, claims and drawing in which briefly:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation showing an embodiment of this invention attached to a conventional bathtub which is shown partially broken away;

F IG. 2 is a detail view'partially in section showing the fitting provided to the aspirator and nozzle of this device, inserted into the valve mechanism in the drain of the bathtub; and

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the parts shown in FIG. 2.

Referring to the drawing in detail, reference numeral 10 designates a conventional bathtub having a drain 11 provided in the bottom thereof. The drain includes a pipe 12 and a small threaded pipe 13 is attached thereto by soldering or the like in a hole in the bottom of the drain pipe 12. The drain pipe 12 is attached to the pipe 14 which is integral with the pipe 15 that ex tends upward along the outside of the bathtub and opens into the overflow 16 which is supported in the upper part of the tub. A drain valve 17 of conventional construction is positioned in the pipe 15 opposite the pipe 14 and this valve is connected by the member 18, shown in broken outline, to the control lever 19 that is accessible from the inside of the tub. Thus when it is desired to drain the tub the lever 19 is pushed downward so as to raise the drain valve 17 and open the pipe 14 into the sewer.

,A nozzle 20 is provided above the bathtub 10 for supplying water to the tub and for this purpose this nozzle is connected to the pipe 21 which is connected to the mixer valve 22 that is controlled by the knob 23. Hot and cold water pipes 24 and 25 are connected to the mixer valve 22 and another pipe 26 is connected to this valve and to the shower head 27. A vacuum breaker valve 28 of conventional construction is connected by the pipe 29 to the supply pipe 26 and another pipe 30 is used to connect the valve 28 to the directional valve 33 which is connected to T34, T35, pipe 35a and valve mechanism 45 which is positioned in the drain 12. Valve mechanism 45 is adapted to be connected to nozzle 59 as will be described hereinafter. The vacuum breaker valve 28 prevents water from being drawn out of pipe 30 into, water supply pipes 24 and 25 in case the pressure in the latter pipes should fail for any reason. When it is desired to supply water to the pipe 30 the valve 31, associated with the nozzle 20, is closed and the valve 32 which is provided in the pipe 26 leading to the showerhead 27 is also closed.

Water may be supplied to the nozzle 59 from the supply pipe 30 through the directional valve 33 when it is desired to use the nozzle at the water pressure available at the hot and cold water supply pipes 24 and 25. The valve 33 permits water to flow therethrough in the direction indicated by the arrow 33a. The directional valve 33 is connected to one side of the T 34 and the other side of this T is connected to one side of the T 35. The other side of the T 35 is connected to the directional valve 36 which is connected. to the pipe 37 that leads to the water pump 38. The pump 38 is driven by the motor 39 which is controlled by switch 39a and is provided with electrical connections to a source of current supply (not shown). Thus the motor 39 is turned on and drives the pump 38 when the switch 39a is closed.

The inlet 38b of the pump is connected to the directional valve 41 by the pipe 42 and the inlet side of the directional valve 41 is connected by pipe 43 to the T 44 which is connected to the drain 14. The T 35 is provided with a connection to the fitting V 13 which is soldered or welded in the bottom of the drain 12 as shown in FIG. 2. The valve mechanism 45 is attached to the fitting 13 on the inside of the drain 12 and valve member 46 is positioned inside of the valve mechanism 45. The lower end of valve member 46 is provided with a sealing washer 49 of rubber or the like which is attached thereto by the screw 50 and which is adapted to seat on the sealing surface 51 when the valve is closed. The upper part of the valve member 46 is provided with a shoulder 47 which engages the upper part of the coil spring 48. The spring urges the valve member upward and also limits the downward movement of the valve member. The coil spring 48 is positioned around the valve member 46 so that the upper part of this coil spring engages the lower surface of the shoulder 47 of the valve member and the lower part thereof engages the inturned shoulder a of the valve housing.

Normally, the valve member 46 is held in raised position by the spring 48 as shown in FIG. 3. However, when the sleeve 52 of the fitting 53 is inserted into the valve mechanism 45 as shown in FIG. 2, the bottom of the sleeve 52 engages the upper end of the valve mem ber 46 and presses this member down so that the holes 46a thereof open into the lower cavity of the valve mechanism and water can flow through the holes 46a of the hollow valve member 46 from the lower cavity of the valve mechanism to the upper cavity thereof. The sleeve 52 is provided with a projecting member 52a which is adapted to be received in the recess 45b of the valve mechanism so that the fitting 53 may be lockedin place in the valve mechanism to hold the valve open. The upper part of the fitting 53 is threaded to receive the coupling 54 which is attached to the short pipe 55. Therupper part of the short pipe 55 is inserted into the lower part of the elbow 56 and soldered therein and the upper part of elbow 56 is attached by soldering or the like to one side of the T 57. The aspirator tube 58 is attached by soldering or the like to the upper part of the T 57 and the nozzle 59 is attached to the outlet side of the T 57, also by soldering, or the like.

When the hand unit which includes the nozzle 59, aspirator 58, T 57, elbow 56, tube 55, coupling 54, and fitting 53, is attached to the valve mechanism 45 as shown in FIG. 2 so that the valve 46 is open, and with the pump 38 turned on, water is circulated from the tub l0, drain 12, pipe 43 and valve 41, by the pump 38 into pipe 37, valve 36, T 35, and pipe 35a, valve mechanism 45 and out of nozzle 59 to produce hydromassage action in the water in the tub.

If the hand unit is withdrawn from the valve mechanism 45 by removingthe sleeve 52 therefrom, so that the valve member 46 is closed while the pump 38 is running, water will be circulated through the pressure relief valve 60 which is connected between the T 34 and the T 44 and thus forms a bypass around the pump 38. Pressure relief valve 60 is of the type No. 530 made by the Watts Regulator Company of Lawrence, Massachusetts, for example. and it is provided with a calibrated adjustable member 60a so that the pressure at which this valve will open may be set. This pressure should, of course, be higher than the pressure at which the hydromassage unit is to be used. For example, ifthe water coming out of the nozzle 59 of the hydromassage unit is at 60 pounds per square inch pressure then the pressure relief valve 60 should be set to open at about 80 pounds per square inch pressure. Thus, when the valve mechanism 45 is closed by withdrawal of the hand unit when the pump 38 is in operation, the valve 60 will be open when the pressure developed by the pump 38 reaches 80 pounds per square inch so that the water circulated by the pump passes through the pressure relief valve 60 since it can not circulate through the tub.

A hand unit such as indicated at 59a which is provided with a length of flexible hose 59b may be used either with the valve in the drain of the tub or with a similar valve mechanism 45a in the water spout 20. In the latter case both the shower valve 32 and the spout valve 31 must be closed so that enough water pressure is provided at the nozzle 59a. Furthermore, the nozzle 59a and flexible hose 59b may be used in the tub 10 instead of the nozzle 59 since the flexible hose 59b is provided with a fitting 53 that may be inserted into the valve mechanism 45. Thus, the flexible unit may be used in the tub in place of the rigid unit.

While I have shown and described a preferred form of the invention it will be apparent that the invention is capable of variation and modification from the form shown so that the scope thereof should be limited only by the proper scope of the claims appended hereto.

What I claim is:

1. In hydrotherapy equipment adapted for use with a conventional bathtub which is provided with a drain in the bottom thereof, the combination comprising a valve mechanism located in said drain so that it is ac- I cessible from the inside of the bathtub, the top of said mechanism being substantially flush with the opening of said drain into the bathtub, a pipe connected to said valve mechanism, said pipe being attached to said drain and projecting out of said drain below said bathtub, a pump, a motor for driving said pump, means connecting the inlet of said pump to said drain, means connecting the outlet of said pump to the part of said pipe projecting out of said drain below said bathtub, the valve of said mechanism being normally closed, a tubular member adapted to be inserted into said valve mechanism to open said valve, and a nozzle attached to said tubular member, said pump outlet supplying water to said nozzle from said drain when said tubular member is inserted into said valve mechanism and said valve thereof is open.

2. In hydrotherapy equipment adapted for use with a conventional bathtub which is provided with a drain in the bottom thereof, the combination as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a bypass connected between said pump inlet an outlet and an adjustable pressure relief valve connected in said bypass so that when said valve mechanism is closed water pumped by said pump is circulated through said bypass at pressure determined by the setting of said relief valve.

3. In hydrotherapy equipment adapted for use with a conventional bathtub which is provided with a drain in the bottom thereof, the combination as set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said tubular member and said valve mechanism are provided with cooperating means for releasably holding said tubular member assembled with said valve mechanism.

4. In hydrotherapy equipment adapted for use with a conventional bathtub which is provided with a drain in the bottom thereof, the combinations as set forth in claim 3, further characterized in that said nozzle is attached to said tubular member by a flexible hose. 

1. In hydrotherapy equipment adapted for use with a conventional bathtub which is provided with a drain in the bottom thereof, the combination comprising a valve mechanism located in said drain so that it is accessible from the inside of the bathtub, the top of said mechanism being substantially flush with the opening of said drain into the bathtub, a pipe connected to said valve mechanism, said pipe being attached to said drain and projecting out of said drain below said bathtub, a pump, a motor for driving said pump, means connecting the inlet of said pump to said drain, means connecting the outlet of said pump to the part of said pipe projecting out of said drain below said bathtub, the valve of said mechanism being normally closed, a tubular member adapted to be inserted into said valve mechanism to open said valve, and a nozzle attached to said tubular member, said pump outlet supplying water to said nozzle from said drain when said tubular member is inserted into said valve mechanism and said valve thereof is open.
 2. In hydrotherapy equipment adapted for use with a conventional bathtub which is provided with a drain in the bottom thereof, the combination as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a bypass connected between said pump inlet an outlet and an adjustable pressure relief valve connected in said bypass so that when said valve mechanism is closed water pumped by said pump is circulated through said bypass at pressure determined by the setting of said relief valve.
 3. In hydrotherapy equipment adapted for use with a conventional bathtub which is provided with a drain in the bottom thereof, the combination as set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said tubular member and said valve mechanism are provided with cooperating means for releasably holding said tubular member assembled with said valve mechanism.
 4. In hydrotherapy equipment adapted for use with a conventional bathtub which is provided with a drain in the bottom thereof, the combinations as set forth in claim 3, further characterized in that said nozzle is attached to said tubular member by a flexible hose. 